Controlling device



July 29, 1930.

UHER. JR CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Feb. 4, i927 2 N V E N T O R Edmund (/60; 0

A-TTO R N EYS Patented July 29, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT-7' OFFICE EDMUND UHER, JR, OF BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, ASSIGNOB To UHEETYPE A. G., 03 GLAD-US, SWITZERLAND, A. FIRM OI SWITZERLAND CONTROLLING DEVICE Application filed February 4, 1927, Serial No. 185,997, and in Germany January 4, 1927.

The invention relates to a controlling device of the kirid in which travelling selectors are employed and which are adapted for use in many ways such for example as for the generation of definite si ns of light or sound,

for the operation of lig t sensitive compositor machines and of electrical or mechanical switching apparatus and the like and it consists in an arrangement and construction of the. controlling mechanism whereby the selectors actin as contact members or abutments are capsible of being varied practically indefinitely on a support on which they are carried similarly to the printing signs in type 16 setting, and are controlled and corrected in their position temporarily and adapted in any desired combination to be used either in continuity or after one or repeated use to be readily removed from the support on which they arearrayed when in use.

The accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example two constructional forms of the invent-ion:

Fig. 1 represents a novel controlling device in a vertical transverse section.

Fig. 2 is a similar partial section of the selector drum showing the ball passages used in this instance but not the keyboard.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 1 showing in an exposed manner only a portion of the selector drum and of the ball passages, a central portion of the drum hood and some of the ball passages and part of the keyboard.

Fig. 4 shows in detail some contact points of the drum viewed from below and Fig. 5' is a plan view or plotted diagram illustratin a distribution of the selectors.

Mounte on an insulating bar 1 is a series of individual contact springs or tongues 2 each of which is connected to an individualof the contacts would be dependent respectively on the number of strings or warp threads etc.

Rota-table about an axis 4 in the direction of the arrow shown is a drum 5 the mantle of which is rovided in the plane of each tongue 2 circum erentially with a girdle of cavities 6. The row of tongues 2 extends into the path of balls 7 herein referred to as selectors which therefore come into contact with these tongues 2. The drum 5 is connected in anysuitable way to one pole of an electric source, the other pole of which is branched off to the tongues 2. As soon, therefore, as a ball 7 comes into contact with the requisite tongue 2 it causes the corresponding circuit to be closed, so that the balls 7 or other equivalent bodies that may be used constitute in fact selectors which are adapted to control the various circuits provided for the performanceof various functions.

The balls 7 or the like are accordin to this invention placed on the drum 5 in 9. rec condition and are temporarily retained in their positions in one or the other manner as hereinafter stated by reference to Fig. 1.

Arranged below and opposite each girdle of cavities or selectors is an inclined channel 8 filled with balls 7, so that the latter tend successively to roll towards a charging point 9. Each channel 8 is associated with a spindle 10 by terminating in the end of a uide 11 for the same. The width of said gui e is equal to the size ofa ball 7 necessitating therefore only the manipulation of one spindle 10 for the.

raising o drum 5.

In order to effect this operation the drum 5 is rotated intermittently and the spindles 10 are actuated during the standstill of the drum, as shown by means of a keyboard comprising the keys 12 and the lever gear 13, 14 and 15; A forward extension 16 engages a fork 17 on the respective spindle 10. The key 12 individual to said spindle 10 causes the lever gear 13, 16 to assume first of all the ready position shown in Fig.1 in which the link 15 is stiffened out'by the action of a pawl 18. The actual lifting of the spindle 10 is thereafter efiected with the aid of an electro one ball 7 into its position on the magnet 19 which in the manner indicated in the drawin is rendered olperative by the next and spindle together with a ball 7 thereon towards the circumference of the drum. The springs 22, 23 and 24-. shown in Fig. 1 are provided to restore all parts to the imtial position. t

If it should be noticed that a wrong key 12 was depressed the error can be readily corrected by means of the release key 25 before the ball 7 had in fact been raised and in this manipulation the selector drum 5 need not be stopped if previously thereto it was properly set by the action of the keys 12.

The d um 5 may be a magnet so as to hold the balls by attraction. In this case it could remain uncovered and the selectors once fitted on the drum could be used repeatedly or a scraper 26 (Fig. 2) could be so positioned in the track of the balls as to lift the balls 7 from thedrum after they have passed the tongues 2. Where the balls 7, however, are employed quite freely the drum 5 as shown in Fig. 1 is covered by a hood 27 extending from the charging point 9 in the direction of the arrow to the tongues 2, so as to hold the balls 7 in their cavities between the char ing point and the contact members referre to. This portion between 9 and 2 contains a number of consecutive selector divisions whereby the sco e of the selector adjustment is extended o erin in addition an opportunity for control an correction before the balls 7 come into contact with the tongues 2. To this end the hood 27 is slotted along its upper generatrix where the free balls 7 can temporarily be exposed. The gap 28 thus formed is associated with a graduation 29 which coupled with a circular division of the drum 5 enables the position of each ball 7 to be precisely determined. Any balls that may have been inserted inadvertently in a wrong cavity may thus be picked out and their positions corrected To this end the keys 12 cause also a record strip to be printed on in ordinary type so as to enable this control to be readily exercised. The operation of the controlling mechanism described will from the foregoing be well understood. The keys 12 are actuated like the keyboard of a typewriting machine, by which action the balls 7 are individually located on the drum 5 in succession while the latter is intermittently advanced from division to division. The proper function of the selectors sets in after their travel from the distance between 9 and 2. Fig. 5 illustrates the co-ordinated plan of one example of selector adjustment in which the balls are represented by black dots and for the sake of clearness have been shown connected one to the other by oblique lines.

Each channel 8 is associated with a risin continuation 30 by way of which each bal after passing the tongues 2 and dro ping is conveyed b v gravity back to the c arging point 9 ena ling the setting of the selector odies to be repeated.

What I claim is 1. A circuit-controlling device, comprising in combination, a series of fixed contact members individually connected with one pole of a source of electrical energy, a movable carrier'in electrical connection with the other pole of said source and adapted to travel past said contact members in close proximity thereto, a plurality of free contact bodies each adapted to occupy temporarily a position on said carrier thereby to form contact with one of said fixed members when moved past the same, means on said carrier to hold said bodies in selected circumferential positions on said carrier, means for selectively placing said free bodies on said carrier, in selected circumferential positions and means for returning said free bodies into position to be selected.

2. A circuit-controlling device, comprising in combination, a series of fixed contact members individually connected with one pole of a source of electrical energy, a movable carrier in electrical connection with the other pole of said source and adapted to travel past said cont-act members in close proximity thereto, a plurality of free contact bodies each adapted to occupy temporarily a position on said carrier thereby to form contact with one of said fixed members when moved past the same, means for selectively placing said free 7 bodies on said carrier, permanent means on said carrier for retaining said free bodies in their selected circumferential positions until they contact with said fixed members, and means automatically operative after such contact for returning said free bodies into position to be selected.

3. A circuit-controlling device, comprising a combination, a series of fixed contact members individually connected with one pole of a source of electrical energy, a movable carrier in electrical connection with the other I turning said free bodies into position to be selected.

4. A circuit-controlling device, comprising in combination, a series of fixed contact members individually connected with one pole of a source of electrical energy, a movable carrier in electrical connection with the other pole of said source and adapted to travel past said contact members in close proximity thereto, said carrier being rovided on its surface with a plurality of clrcumferentiall-y spaced cavities, a plurality of freely rolling bodies each adapted to occupy temporarily one of said cavities in said carrier thereby to form contact with one of said fixed mem bers when moved past the same, means for selectively placing said bodies in said cav ities, and automatically operative means for returning said bodies into position to be selected.

5. A circuit-controlling device, comprising in combination, a series of fixed contact members individually connected with one pole of a source of electrical energy, a rotatable drum in electrical connection with the other pole of said some and adapted to rotate past said contact members with. its perimeter in close proximity thereto, plurality of free contact bodies each adapted to occupy temporarily position on said drum thereby to form contact with one of said fixed members when moved past the same, means on said drum to hold said bodies in selected circum i ercntial positions on said drum, means for selectively placing said lree bodies on said drum, and means for returning said bodies into position to be selected.

, 6. A circuit-controlling device, comprising in combination, a series of fixed contact members individually connected with one pole of a source of electrical energy, a rotatable drum in electrical connection with the other pole of said source and adapted to rotate past said contact members with its perimeter in close proximity thereto, said drum being adapted to be driven intermittently, a plurality of free contact bodies each adapted to occupy temporarily a position on said. drum thereby to form contact with one of said fixed members when moved past the same, means on said drum to hold said bodies in selected circumferential positions on said drum, means for selectively placing said free bodies on said drum, and means for returning said bodies into position to be selected.

7. A circuit-controlling device, comprising in combination, a series of fixed contact members individually connected with one pole of a source of electrical energy, a movable carrier in electrical connection With the other pole of said source and adapted to travel past said contact members in close proximity thereto, a plurality of free contact bodies each adapted to occupy temporarily a position on said carrier thereby to form contact with one of said fixed members when moved past the same, means for selectively placing sald free bodies on said carrier, permanent means on said carrier to hold said bodies in selected circumferential positions around the carrier, and a manually operable keyboard for bringing said selecting means into operation.

8. A circuit-controlling device, comprising in combination, a serles of fixed contact members individually connected with one pole of a source of electrical energy, a rotatable drum in electrical connection with the other pole of said source and adapted to 7 travel past said contact members with its. perimeter in close proximity thereto, said drum being provided with a plurality of circumferential linesof positions, a plurality of of free contact bodies each adapted to occu y temporarily one of said positions there: y to form contact with one of said fixed members when moved past the same, a movableplunger in association with each of said lines of positions "for selectively placing said free members therein, means for actuating plunger, and manually operable means tier individually bringing said plungenactnat ing means into action.

9., A circuit-controlling device, compris g in combination, a series of fixed contact m bers individually connected with one pole a source oi electrical ener a rotatable dr in electrical connection with the other pole said source and adapted to travel past contact meirbers with its perimeter in close proximity thereto, said drum being provided with a plurality of circumferential lines of positions, a plurality of free contact bodies each adapted to occupy temporarily one of said positions thereby to form contact with one of said fixed members when moved past the same, a movable plunger in association with each of said lines of positions for selectively lacing said free members therein, means or actuating said plunger, an electro magnet adapted to operate said plunger-actuating means, and manually operable means for closing a circuit through said electro magnet.

10. A circnit-controlling device, comprising in combination, a series of fixed contact members individually connected with one pole of a source of electrical energy, a rotatable drum in electrical connection with the other pole of said source and adapted to travel past said contact members with its perimeter'in close proximity thereto, said drum being provided with a plurality of circumferential lines of positions, a pluralityiof free contact bodies each adapted to occupy temporarily one of said positions thereby to form contact with one of said fixed members when moved past the same, a movable plunger in association with each of said lines of positions for selectively placing said free members therein, lever mechanism for actuating said plungers, an electromagnet adapted to operate said lever mechanism, the lever mechani'sm being normally out of the range of Hill said electroma et, and manually operable means for shifting said lever mechanism into position to be actuated and for subsequently closing a circuit through said electromagnet.

11. A circuit-controlling device, comprising in combination, a series of fixed contact members individually connected with one pole of a source of electrical energy, a movable carrier in electrical connection with the other pole of said source and adapted to travel past said contact members in close proximity thereto, a plurality of free contact bodies each adapted to occupy temporarily a position on said carrier thereby to form contact with one of said fixed members when moved past the same, means for selectively placing said free members on said carrier, a hood for retaining said free members in their selected positions until they contact with said fixed members, said hood being slotted longitudinally and provided with indicia for indicating the correct positions of said free members, and means operative after contact with the fixed members for returning said free members into position to be selected.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature this 13 day of January, 1927.

EDMUND UHER, JR. 

